You ll need a much bigger pack on Denali for sure.. there 80-90 ltr is the norm

Yep, and a big sled

Get a pack where you can also tie a lot at the bottom and top and maybe sides. I know that most of the stuff should be inside, but it's no use having your mattresses inside and take away all the space and weight balance. Also think about how many times you actually need to haul 90+liters of gear, if needed you mostly can get by with one uncomfortable day with stuff on the outside on a much smaller (and lighter) pack.

On this pic I think I used a 70l pack and a lot of tying on to carry everything over Aconcagua at once, was estimated 40+ kgs. If you take a much larger pack on anything besides Denali you will simply carry too much. And yes, on Denali you are supposed to carry too much :lol)

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"He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

That's very worrying....I knew a lot had to be carried on Denali but an 80 to 90 ltr pack....and a sled! I was hoping to climb Denali in May/June...I'm 5ft 3 and weigh about 100 pounds. Am I being unrealistic?? that pack sounds bigger than I am!

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“Today, it is still not hard to find a man who will adventure for the sake of a dream or one who will search, for the pleasure of searching, and not for what he may find.” Sir Edmund Hillary

I have the Arc'Teryx Bora 95 pack and works great. I have a tendency to bring too much stuff but just my sleeping bag (a -28c) takes about 25 liters of space, so the space is definitely needed. The support of this pack is amazing, even if it's a little bit heavy, you don't feel it. And with the compression straps, you can reduce the volume to a 65l pack if needed and the pack will only be 1 kg more than a 65l pack.

And if you go winter camping or ski touring like I do, you will definitely love the extra space of the 95l pack.

i've got a quick add on question.. what do you usually or what do you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?? I guess this goes out to ron and harry who have been on everest.. but feel free anyone else to add food stuff from other expeditions.

That's very worrying....I knew a lot had to be carried on Denali but an 80 to 90 ltr pack....and a sled! I was hoping to climb Denali in May/June...I'm 5ft 3 and weigh about 100 pounds. Am I being unrealistic?? that pack sounds bigger than I am!

Hey Daisy,

though this belongs in a separate Everything we need to know about Denali-topic, I'll try to give some advice.

Denali is very tough as you have to carry everything yourself. It is the only mountain I actually went to the gym for beforehand to train my lower back muscles, shoulders and legs.

You need very strong muscles to be able to drag a full sled uphill.

Some remarks:- when I climbed it (twice) I did not cache and carry until 3300m, but brought up everything at once which of course makes your pack heavier. Many people only carry half of the gear/food first and move the rest the following (possible) day- A team should divide the loads according to bodyweight. If you are travelling with a 200pound companion, (s)he should carry roughly up to twice as much as you do. This is only fair as you will probably only eat half as much, your clothes and sleeping bag are smaller/lighter etc.- Marian who climbed with Ron and me to the summit last year was maybe only 20pounds heavier than you and 2 inches taller and she went right for the summit (we all got there in 11 days), so if you train hard you should be able to make it as well.- Denali, like most mountains is mostly mental, but this one is physically very demanding and you need endurance, strenght and mental training for it. Once you feel confident, you will enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth

5ft3 & 100pounds? And you fit Tyra's bra? Are you married yet?

« Last Edit: Oct 28 2004, 02:37 by 7summits »

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"He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

i've got a quick add on question.. what do you usually or what do you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?? I guess this goes out to ron and harry who have been on everest.. but feel free anyone else to add food stuff from other expeditions.

Up to ABC eveything is taken care of: the cooks prepare all meals and usually they are very good.Higher up I stick to freezedrieds with loads of sweets, chocolate and anything that tastes good while giving energy. I liked the proteine shakes as well as they gave me energy while rehydrating.For dinner I ate AdventureFood and Mountainhouse meals: chicken, mashed potato, pasta etc. Hot cereal with nuts for breakfast, very hard to get down at altitude actually, but loads of energy (and again rehydration). Did not do any lunch, just loads of snacks, GU gels, energy drinks etc. all day long.

Darn, can't wait to get back!

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"He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

Up to ABC eveything is taken care of: the cooks prepare all meals and usually they are very good.Higher up I stick to freezedrieds with loads of sweets, chocolate and anything that tastes good while giving energy. I liked the proteine shakes as well as they gave me energy while rehydrating.For dinner I ate AdventureFood and Mountainhouse meals: chicken, mashed potato, pasta etc. Hot cereal with nuts for breakfast, very hard to get down at altitude actually, but loads of energy (and again rehydration). Did not do any lunch, just loads of snacks, GU gels, energy drinks etc. all day long.Darn, can't wait to get back!

Well, I can only say that even though I lack the experience to go to Mt. Everest at this point I hope I make it there someday to try it out.. Every time I read about Everest or watch a movie or hear something I get this tingle inside and I curse myself for not starting with mountaineering sooner. Actually my girlfriend rather see that I go to Everest then Elbrus but that's basically just because a workmate died on Elbrus.

How do you fund such an escapade Harry, and twice? If you wait a couple of yaers maybe one another can tag along

Hi Buddha!I have the Arc'Teryx Bora 95 pack and works great. I have a tendency to bring too much stuff but just my sleeping bag (a -28c) takes about 25 liters of space, so the space is definitely needed. The support of this pack is amazing, even if it's a little bit heavy, you don't feel it. And with the compression straps, you can reduce the volume to a 65l pack if needed and the pack will only be 1 kg more than a 65l pack.And if you go winter camping or ski touring like I do, you will definitely love the extra space of the 95l pack.MikeW

Hey Mike,

I actually think I will go for a larger pack. After all, backpacks are extremely expensive here in Sweden. The Bora 95 costs US $850 or 650 Euro. Since I'm not made out of money I will probably only buy one pack and then use it until it's trashed. And before anyone says anything about buying it online from the US... I've already checked. It will cost me approx $450 and with shipping another $80. Then to that is the famous toll and VAT, bringing the final cost up to $830 so basically I won't gain anything on buying the pack there since all companies must fill out the value of the package.

Any American that wanna make say a few dollars, can contact me and we can work something out

though this belongs in a separate Everything we need to know about Denali-topic, I'll try to give some advice.

Denali is very tough as you have to carry everything yourself. It is the only mountain I actually went to the gym for beforehand to train my lower back muscles, shoulders and legs.

You need very strong muscles to be able to drag a full sled uphill.

Some remarks:- when I climbed it (twice) I did not cache and carry until 3300m, but brought up everything at once which of course makes your pack heavier. Many people only carry half of the gear/food first and move the rest the following (possible) day- A team should divide the loads according to bodyweight. If you are travelling with a 200pound companion, (s)he should carry roughly up to twice as much as you do. This is only fair as you will probably only eat half as much, your clothes and sleeping bag are smaller/lighter etc.- Marian who climbed with Ron and me to the summit last year was maybe only 20pounds heavier than you and 2 inches taller and she went right for the summit (we all got there in 11 days), so if you train hard you should be able to make it as well.- Denali, like most mountains is mostly mental, but this one is physically very demanding and you need endurance, strenght and mental training for it. Once you feel confident, you will enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth

5ft3 & 100pounds? And you fit Tyra's bra? Are you married yet?

Thanks! good to know that these summits are possible even for those of us who do not have bulging biceps...well not yet anyway! No not married yet...still waiting for you to send me that 10,000,000 dollar piece of clothing

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“Today, it is still not hard to find a man who will adventure for the sake of a dream or one who will search, for the pleasure of searching, and not for what he may find.” Sir Edmund Hillary

Sounds like fin but for me it's a little bit too soon on. Me and my girlfriend are expecting our baby to be born in the middle of January. I don't think she's like me to head away from home that soon after. Now, for the competition in 2006 I would surely consider it. Maybe an international team then?